Bajrang Dal, Police Stop Underage Girl’s Wedding At Church, 10 Held

Satna (Madhyapradesh): Police and Bajrang Dal activists entered a church in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna on Wednesday and stopped the wedding of a Hindu minor girl and a boy who had allegedly converted to Christianity four years ago.

Ten persons were arrested in the incident, police said today.

Following a complaint by Bajrang Dal in Kolgawan Police Station, a police team along with Bajrang Dal activists entered the ‘Church of God’ and stopped the wedding ceremony.

City Superintendent of Police Sitaram Yadav said the girl was a Hindu and according to her certificate she was 10 days short of turning 18.

“We have arrested 10 persons in this regard including the pastor, Sam Samuel and the groom,” Sitaram Yadav said.

The police action came after a complaint by Madhya Pradesh Backward Class Commission Member Laxmi Yadav and Bajrang Dal. Police said the couple had claimed that they had converted to Christianity but failed to inform the police about it which is mandatory under law.

Mr Yadav said it was a small church and large number of people gathered at the spot at the time of the incident. Sitaram Yadav said that they got suspicious after interacting with the girl, and one of her close relatives also opposed their marriage.

The accused persons were arrested under the Religious Conversion Act and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the police officer said. They were produced in a local court which has granted them bail, he added.